Too Progressive

Governor Kaine has put a moratorium on all executions in Virginia pending a supreme court ruling on the constitutionality of lethal injections. It’s time for Conservatives to pick a side. They cry and holler over stem cell research and a women’s right to choose but they’re all for murder and “playing God” when it comes to the death penalty. So which is it?

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine ordered the moratorium on Tuesday in delaying the scheduled April 8 execution of Edward Nathaniel Bell until July 24.

It is the 30th such stay of execution nationally since September, when the Supreme Court agreed to hear a Kentucky case that challenged the constitutionality of lethal injections. Other executions are not being scheduled pending the ruling, expected in late June.

“That’s the pattern all over the country–dates are not being set,” Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said Wednesday.

Since the Supreme Court allowed states to reinstate capital punishment in 1976, 1,099 executions have been carried out in the United States, including 98 in Virginia, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Only Texas has carried out more executions, at 405.

The Vatican has spoke out against the execution, calling it “tragic” and joined India in expressing concerns that it may lead to more violence. Rev. Federico Lombardi reiterated the Catholic churches opposition to the death penalty and said capital punishment is never justified “even when the person put to death is one guilty of great crimes.” Cardinal Renato Martino said executing Saddam would mean punishing “a crime with another crime.”

Elsewhere, world leaders had mixed reactions. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Saddam had “now been held to account for at least some of the appalling crimes he committed against the Iraqi people,” but at the same time, condemned the death penalty.

The government of Libya announced that it will observe a three day mourning period for the former dictator. Both Kuwait, and Iran welcomed the execution.

I mentioned last night how George Bush responded by saying that Hussein’s death will not halt violence, and that the execution was a reminder of how far the Iraqi people have come since the end of the former dictator’s rule. Bush issued that statement, despite the fact that December was the deadliest month this year, and will go down as at least the third deadliest in Iraq since the start of combat in March, 2003. But yeah, Mr. President, we’re making GREAT progress, huh?

Finland’s Foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country currently holds the rotating European Union presidency issued the following statement reiterating the EU’s opposition to the death penalty:

“The European Union has a very consistent stand … on opposing the death penalty and it should not have been applied in this case either, even though there is no doubt about Saddam Hussein’s guilt over serious violations against human rights.”

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan criticized the timing of the execution (today marks the start of the week long Muslim holiday known as Eid al-Adha), but also said the execution will have no effect on his country.

Prime Minister John Howard of Australia issued a statement seemingly praising the death of Saddam:

“I believe there is something quite heroic about a country that is going through the pain and the suffering that Iraq is going through, yet still extends due process to somebody who was a tyrant and brutal suppressor and murderer of his people.”

Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe simply said that his country will continue to support Iraq in it’s reconstruction effort.

The blogosphere weighed in on the execution as well. Kevin over at Tom Joad’s place echoed President Bush in saying that the execution will do nothing to halt escalating violence in Iraq. SLANTblog has coverage too, basically sharing my sentiment that no matter your opinion on the death penalty, Saddam pretty much got what he had coming. Lowell over at Raising Kaine ask what’s next? Noting that violence has increased in the past after other major events took place in Iraq.

“Best” thread though (or perhaps most asinine comment, would be a better title), goes to Virginia Progressive where Shaun Kenney leaves a comment comparing Hussein to Hitler. Sorry, much to the dismay of the Republican party, AMERICANS ARE WISING UP, and refraining from buying into such ridiculous claims anymore.

In Iraq this morning, a car bomb exploded killing at least 31, and injuring at least 58. CNN is also reporting a second car bomb explosion killing at least seven, and injuring more than 30. However, since this is such a common occurrence in Iraq, no one can really say whether the attacks are related to Hussein’s execution. So much for that progress George Bush is still pretending exists, eh?

Vivian Paige has a post up about Governor Kaine delaying execution for a death row inmate who is MENTALLY INCOMPETENT BY SUPREME COURT STANDARDS, meaning he is NOT ELIGIBLE to be put to death.

Despite this, I agree with Vivian that death penalty advocates will likely see this as Tim Kaine wavering on his promise not to let his personal opinion interfere with his ability to uphold the law, despite the fact that four other executions have been carried out in Virginia since he took office. Kaine often said during his 2005 campaign against Jerry Kilgore, that he is Catholic, and is personally opposed to the death penalty, but if elected he would uphold the law, which he has.